Between these two houses is a narrow, paved walkway to S. 16th St. Turn right and walk through.
StepTrek Route: Gold Route 2019
Gold Route 2019
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S. 15th St.
To the right is the former Polska Szkola built in 1898. Continue down S. 15th St. one half block. On the left, a couple of doors down from Breed St. is St. Adalbert Church. This is one of only two churches on the South Side in operation since the consolidation among Catholic parishes. The parish house is at 162 S. 15th and the former convent at 155 S. 15th.
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* Pedestrian Bridges
At the request of SSSNA & Slopes residents, the City and railroad completed this footbridge and the other at S. 10th St. in 2002. The trestle is made of the same COR-TEN steel as the U.S. Steel tower downtown. The brown rust serves as a protective coating over the steel frame. The bridges reinstated pedestrian access between the Slopes and Flats. Another SSSNA effort brought safety lighting to the two bridges. At the end of the bridge, descend 59 steps.
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S. 15th St. Steps
Make left and descend the 26 steps along left side to Clinton St. At Clinton, descend 60 steps to the footbridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
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* St. Michael Parish
The complex on the right includes the Burning Bush, which offers a retreat center for quiet meditation in overnight rooms. At 44 Pius is the former St. Michael’s Madchen Schule and previous home of the Veronica’s Veil playhouse. The theater hosted a series of plays throughout the year but was most famous for its Passion play, Veronica’s Veil. Performed during Lent, it was said to be the longest running play in American community theater. These buildings were part of St. Michael’s Parish. The former convent for the parish lies at 66 Pius Street and is now a condominium complex.
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* Cholera Plague of 1849
In 1849, a deadly cholera plague hit Pittsburgh. The parish could not find enough burial places for its deceased members. Parishioners prayed to St. Roch and vowed to keep a day holy if the plague would cease. It did. Another plague hit the South Side in 1853 but no members of St. Michael died. Cholera Day is observed each August in Prince of Peace Parish on the South Side. The church was closed through a consolidation within the parish and has been redeveloped into condominiums.
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* St. Michael Church
The influence of the church was strong in the Slopes. St. Michael parish started in a house in 1848 where the church front now stands. Designed by Charles Bartberger of Stuttgart, Germany, the church was built between 1855 and 1860 on land donated by German immigrants. The surrounding land reminded them of the Rhine River valley. Though it has a gothic spire, the overall style is Rhineland Romanesque Rival similar to rural Bavarian churches.
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Pius St.
Make a left. You are next to the former St. Michael Church. Keep left and walk to S. 15th St.
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Brosville St. Steps
Keep left and climb 43 steps to Pius St.
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S. 12th St.
Cross and make right. Take two steps up and climb left side of S. 12th along the sidewalk and stone wall to the bridge. Mid-span, look left to view the 15th Street pedestrian bridge and right for the 10th St. foot bridge. Continue up to Brosville St.